But here is the very
dame herself, if I mistake not."
It was indeed the formidable figure of the Lady Ermyntrude, gaunt,
bowed and leaning on her staff, which had emerged from the door of
the manor-house and advanced to greet them. She croaked with
laughter, and shook her stick at the great building as she heard
of the discomfiture of the Abbey court. Then she led the way into
the hall where the best which she could provide had been laid out
for their illustrious guest. There was Chandos blood in her own
veins, traceable back through the de Greys, de Multons, de
Valences, de Montagues and other high and noble strains, so that
the meal had been eaten and cleared before she had done tracing
the network of intermarriages and connections, with quarterings,
impalements, lozenges and augmentations by which the blazonry of
the two families might be made to show a common origin. Back to
the Conquest and before it there was not a noble family-tree every
twig and bud of which was not familiar to the Dame Ermyntrude.
And now when the trestles were cleared and the three were left
alone in the hall, Chandos broke his message to the lady. "King
Edward hath ever borne in mind that noble knight your son Sir
Eustace," said he. "He will journey to Southampton next week, and
I am his harbinger. He bade me say, noble and honored lady, that
he would come from Guildford in any easy stage so that he might
spend one night under your roof.
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